Justin Thigpen of the Birmingham Navy intercepts a pass intended for Melanie Fery of the Huntsville Hidden Missiles on Saturday. (The Birmingham News / Butch Dill)

Brad Phillips ran across the end zone as the pass drifted toward the right sideline.
The Hoover resident slid on the wet grass at Gardendale Soccer Complex as he cradled the floating disc.

The catch gave his Birmingham Navy team a 15-9 victory over Montgomery Ultimate and a third-place finish in the first ultimate Frisbee competition at the Alabama Sports Festival.

The Huntsville Hidden Missiles held off the Birmingham Iron Men 15-10 in the gold medal game.

"It was just a little extra security," Phillips said of his game-winning effort. "More of me between it and the ground. I had to go a good ways before I came down."

Ultimate Frisbee combines elements of soccer with American football. A
seven-member team receive the pull -- a long throw that resembles a kickoff -- from the other squad. The disc if tossed between teammates with the recipient holding his position when he makes the catch.

A point is scored when a team member makes a catch in the end zone.

The two Birmingham teams found themselves down 5-1 on neighboring
fields in the medal-round games. Birmingham Navy crept back and led 8-7 at
halftime of the bronze medal game; the Birmingham Iron Men were behind
8-2 at the break of their contest.

Phillips said his team used a more disciplined game plan to take control.

"We said let's line everything up in the middle of the field and keep those side
lines clear so we have room to work," he said. "We started playing more disciplined and methodically working up the field."

Doug Moellering of Roebuck Springs said the Iron Men were making bad
choices as they fell behind in the gold medal game. Team members weren't taking advantage of space on the field on the side.

"The other thing, and I hate to admit it, is they're faster and younger," the
42-year-old said.

Birmingham Iron Men fell behind the Hidden Missiles 12-6. They narrowed the
margin to 12-8 as they shifted to a zone defense.

"Eventually our old people just wore out again," said Homewood's James Drake, the Iron Men captain.E-MAIL: screnshaw@bhamnews.com